The startup ecosystem in the Netherlands was introduced by Peter Wijhuizen, Senior Officer for Innovation, Technology, and Science of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Korea. The content was made by Marten Lammertink, Second Secretary of the Embassy.

1. The Netherlands
startup ecosystem:
The place to be in
Europe
Marten Lammertink
Second Secretary
Netherlands Embassy Seoul

2. Startups play important role in Dutch economy, even
though cumulative economic value relatively small
• Startups key drivers of innovation through tech hubs and technology clusters
• Government focus both on inbound and outbound, >€50 mln funding p/y
• Succes stories:
Online file-sharing | $100-200 mln valuation | ≈ 30 FTEs
Online payments | $2 bln+ valuation | ≈ 450 FTEs
Online media reader | $13 mln valuation | ≈ 80 FTEs
Online travel agency | $130 mln exit in 2005 | ≈ 5,000 FTEs

3. Why should you come to the Netherlands?

4. The Gateway to Europe

5. Small country, big tech footprint: 10+ tech hubs

6. StartupDelta launched in 2014 to support Dutch
startups, „linking pin‟ Dutch startup ecosystem
• Public-private initiative of government and university hubs
• Aim is to boost startup ecosystem in Netherlands and attract foreign
startups to the Netherlands
• Headed by a Special Envoy, Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, since
July 2016
• Ambition to be among top 5 startup ecosystems by 2020

7. “Orange Carpet” treatment: Startup Visa
• Affords ambitious entrepreneurs
from outside EU 1 year to launch
new business in Netherlands
• Later stage startups can rely on
easy residence/work permits for
≤5 years
• Application takes 2-6 weeks
• Expats in Netherlands have 30%
Tax-free allowance on gross salary

8. Services to help startups scale-up to Europe

9. These fast growing (tech) companies all have a EU
hub in the Netherlands

10. November 2016: startup mission to Korea
• Part of trajectory (Joint Statement NL-ROK)
• Headed by Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, StartupDelta
Special Envoy
• 7 startups and 1 hub
• Aims:
1. Support Dutch startups with access to market/investors
2. Promote Netherlands as „place to be‟ for Korean startups
• Roundtable Seoul CCEI,
Pangyo Startup Campus,
Special Get in the Ring Edition, MOUs
• 2017: mission from Korea to NL??

11. Mission delivered strongs results and follow-up
• Improved market access to
Korea for Dutch startups
• Orange Bridge MOU helps
startups find their way to
Netherlands and Korea
• Increased interest for Dutch
ecosystem in Korea (media
exposure)
• Startup Mentor Network
Korea established
• Solid connection between
hubs KEF and ECE (MOU),
promoting entrepreneurship
education

12. Need help/more info? Contact us!
• General questions: seo-ea@minbuza.nl
• Startup ecosystem, startup visa: www.startupdelta.org

14. Thank you for your attention!

15. Backup

16. Three key advantages of the Netherlands

17. #1
European
Digital
Forum
#3
Research
among
European
startups
#4
Global
Startup
Ecosystem
Ranking
Ranking the Dutch startup ecosystem
Dutch startup-ecosystem increasing in popularity in
Europe and beyond

18. Startups grow fast into unicorns